: AQA past-paper questions pack

Is sociology a science?

Past-paper questions pack

Name
Class
Date set
Date due
Score	/ 40

Questions are numbered; the mark schemes (the answer key) follow on separate pages so the question pages can be handed out alone. www.alevelsociologytutor.com

AQA AQA AS and A-level Sociology past-paper questions since 2016 · 3 parts · mark schemes follow the questions · www.alevelsociologytutor.com · Questions and mark schemes © AQA

1. June 2024 · Paper 3 · Q6 · 20 marks · AO1=8,AO2=6,AO3=6

0 6
Read Item C below and answer the question that follows.
Item C
Positivists argue that Sociology can be regarded as scientific. They argue that society
should be studied using the principles and procedures of the natural sciences. They
prefer the use of scientific methods to study people and look for cause and effect
relationships in helping to make predictions about human behaviour.
However, others argue that scientific methods are not always suitable for studying
human behaviour because people have consciousness and free will. There is also
disagreement about how science should be defined.
Applying material from Item C and your knowledge, evaluate the extent to which Sociology
can be regarded as scientific.
[20 marks]

2. November 2021 · Paper 1 · Q6 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2

0 6
Outline and explain two arguments against the positivist view that sociology can be
scientific.
[10 marks]

3. Specimen set 1 · Paper 1 · Q6 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2

0 6
Outline and explain two arguments against the view that sociology is a science.
[10 marks]

Mark schemes

1. June 2024 · Paper 3 · Q6

2. November 2021 · Paper 1 · Q6

3. Specimen set 1 · Paper 1 · Q6